Game device



Aug. 9, 1938. J. A. FIONDELLA GAME DEVIG E Filed N v. 26, 1957 INVENTOR.

MC ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 9, 1938 UNITED STATES GAME.

DEVICE Jean A. Fiondella, East Haven, Conn. assignor to Milton BradleyCompany, Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts ApplicationNovember 26, 1937, serial No. 176,439

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in game devices and is directedmore particularly to devices for use in playing games with a ball andthe like.

The principal objects of the invention are the provision of a devicewhich is adapted to be manually engaged by the player in such a way thata ball or the like may be readily caught or retrieved while in the air.The device is so constructed that it may be swung in the air so as todischarge or propel a ball or the like disposed therein and is soarranged that the ball is releasably held at the bottom thereof until itis desired to discharge it.

While the rules of the game may be varied in many ways, preferably thereare two players, each provided with a device of the invention. A ball orsimilar object is bounced on the playing surface by one player and theother attempts to catch it with his device while it is in the airwhereupon he then propels or discharges the ball with his device towardthe other player who then must, if he can, retrieve and discharge theball with his device, the players then repeating the procedure.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will become moreapparent after a reading of the following description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View to explain how the device of theinvention may be used;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the device of the invention withparts in section;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional View through still another modified form of theinvention.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail the invention will be fullydescribed.

The device of the invention, indicated by 2, broadly includes areceptacle 4 and a handle 6 attached thereto. The receptacle may bevariously constructed but it consists primarily of an elongated more orless bell-shaped tubular member having an open end indicated by 5.

This open end 5 is of a diameter only slightly greater than the ballindicated by B which is adapted to be received thereby and dischargedtherefrom. The side walls of part 4 taper downwardly to a closed endwhich is still nearer the diameter of object B and in this way the ballwill contact the side walls of the receptacle when received and, bothwhile going into the receptacle and while being discharged therefrom, itis thus possible to exert considerable control over the movements of theball.

A bottom wall member 8 extends across and closes the rear or bottom endof the receptacle 4 and it may be joined thereto in various ways. Thehandle 6 may be either secured to the closed end of the receptacle or tothe bottom wall in some suitable manner.

Preferably the receptacle 4 is formed from a rolled sheet of metal. Theforward or outer edge thereof may be rolled back upon itself as shown soas not to be sharp or unsightly.

The playing piece B may be a resilient rubber ball. As stated the innerdiameter of the receptacle not only tapers downwardly but it is notgreatly larger in diameter than the ball so that it is in contact withthe side walls substantially throughout its diameter when it is beingdischarged by the swinging of the device in the air.

With reference to Fig. 2, the device may be provided with a cup-likemember I2 adjacent the pad I0 for releasably retaining the ball until itis desired to discharge it. In this form of the invention, the member l2may be similar to a rubber suction cup of the right size and shape toreleasably engage the innermost portion of the ball.

In Figs. 3 and 4, I have shown another form of retaining means.

Here a receptacle 14, similar to 4, has an open upper end l5, and ahandle l6 extending from its lower end. A pad 20, like member Inpreviously described may or may not be provided.

In any event there is a pad member 22 having flexible fingers 24extending inwardly as shown. Preferably this means takes the form of amolded member of rubber or rubber-like material with the fingers 24extending therefrom in such a way as to yieldably engage the sides ofthe ball B when disposed Within the receptacle.

The fingers 24, being yieldable, of course, permit the ball to fall tothe bottom of the device and then they tend to snap back into horizontalposition to impinge the ball. Then when it is desired i to discharge theball, the device may be swung so that the weight of the ball bends thefingers upwardly so as to allow the ball to go out the open end.

When the resilient pad ID or 20 is used, it preferably consists ofsponge rubber or the like adhesively secured to the bottom part of thereceptacle. This tends to cooperate with the abovedescribed releasableretaining means and prevents the ball from unwontedly bouncing out ofthe receptacle but will, instead, give the player an opportunity toproperly swing the device for the propelling movement. Further, the padstend to deaden any objectionable noise which might otherwise occur bythe balls bounding against the bottom wall of the receptacle.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a receptacle 26, similar to the receptacles 4and H, with spaced ribs or corrugations 28 extending lengthwise of itsinner surface. These ribs may be formed in various ways but are sospaced apart and arranged that the ball or other object B naturallyfalls between two of them as it starts rolling. Thus, the ribs 28 act asrails to guide the ball in a straight path so as to facilitate accuratecontrol thereover.

While I have described the invention in great detail and with respect toa preferred form thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereto sincemany changes and modifications may be made therein without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. What it is desired to claimand secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A game device of the class described comprising in combination anelongated tubular receptacle having downwardly tapering walls and anopen end and lower end wall, the said receptacle adapted to receive aball in its opened end, means extending from the said end wall formanually grasping the said receptacle, a resilient pad on said end wallto receive the impact of a ball, a pad member on one side of the wall ofthe said receptacle having yielding means for engaging and urging theball against the opposite side of the wall cooperating therewith tofrictionally and releasably hold the same.

2. A game device of the class described comprising in combination, anelongated tubular receptacle having downwardly tapering walls, an openend and a closed end wall, a yielding finger member extending inwardlyfrom one side of the inner wall of the said receptacle adapted to beurged downwardly by a ball in its passage to the said closed end walland adapted to return to its inward position so as to impinge the ballafter it has reached the said closed end wall.

JEAN A. FIONDELLA.

